Improved step-ladder



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIC VINCENT FOUNTAIN, JR., OF FACTORYVILLE, NEV YORK.

IMPROVED STEP-LADDER.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 39.726, dated September 1, 1863.

.To allwhom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, VINCENT FOUNTAIN, J r., of Factoryville, Richmond county, State of New York, have invented new and useful improvements in step-ladders, so as to make them convertible into extensiouladders; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of my said improvements and of the manner of constructing and using the same, reference being had to the drawings accompanying and making part of this speciv cation.

Fig. Iis a side elevation of the ladder. Fig. Il is a back elevation of the same folded or shut together. Fig. III is a side elevation of the parts of the step-ladder converted into a continuous or extension ladder.

In all the figures the same letters represent the same parts.

The nature of my invention consists chiefly in so constructing and arranging the part which is the stay or prop of the steps in the step-ladder that it may be turned vertically upward, and in connection. with the step or lower part form a continuous or extension ladder.

The construction of the ladder is shown in the drawings, Fig. I representing the ladder when used simply as a step-ladder, A being the lower or principal part constituting the steps, B, the prop or support o c', the platform at the top; D, the check for receiving the bolt or rod by which A and B are connected together, the part B being ofless width than A, so as to shut or fold within the checks I) D, as seen in Fig. II, which are fixed firmly upon the'upper parts or head of the sides of A.

In order to convert the step into a continuous or extension ladder, the part B is so arranged at the top and so h'ung upon the pin or bolt b that it may be turned up so as to be parallel with the part A and B to be brought into a continuous line, so as to form the extension.

The platform c is constructed in two parts, one of which, c', is a movable leaf hinged at the top, c, so that it maybe turned backward and lie flat upon c, as shown in Fig. III.

When the ladder is to be used as an extension, the leaf cis thrown back, the partB turned upward upon the pin, and the ladder, being placed in position c, acts as a fulcrum to the part B, and c converted into one of the steps of the ladder and the top step of part A.

I make the part B, with steps and rounds combined, as shown in Fig. II, where l 2 are steps, and 3 4. 5 are rounds, the latter being the upper part of the ladder, and not requirin g to be ot' so much strength, as the other parts are lighter, while the steps l 2 afford strength and more convenient standing..

The braces d d have hooks, as usual, to hold the parts A B in position when the ladder is used as a step-ladder only, and when not in use are held to the sides of A by means of spring-catches e e, which, bein gfast at one end and loose at the other, permit the brace to slide under when it is held by a curve in the spring which fits and holds the brace closely to the side of A. v

Having thus described my improvements and the manner of constructing and using the same, what I claim as my invention therein, and for which I desire Letters Patent, is-

l. The converting the step-ladder which is used as a prop into a continuous and eXtension ladder, as described, by turning the same upward vertically upon the pin or bolt, as described.

2. The manner of constructing the platform c c with a leaf and hinge, so as to be used as a platform for the step-ladder, or turned over out of the way to permit the extension part B to be brought into its proper position for forming an extension-ladder.

VINCENT FOUNTAIN, JR. Witnesses:

J. B. STAPLES, GEO. W. FOX. 

